(Newser)
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Egyptian authorities launched a systematic crackdown on the press today, rounding up journalists and sending armed gangs through the streets to attack anyone with camera equipment. Two New York Times journalists were detained overnight, and then released this morning, the paper reports. In addition to the gangs, the government has stationed “spotters” with binoculars outside many hotels to scan balconies for camera crews, al-Jazeera reports. When they spot one, they radio police to raid the hotel.

The government says the journalists aren’t being arrested—they’re being taken into “protective custody.” The state-run news agency has asked all foreign journalists to evacuate Tahrir Square, ostensibly for their own safety. The government has also targeted human rights groups, according to the Times. Security forces raided a law center that had been a staging ground for several non-governmental organizations, ordering everyone to lie on the ground and confiscating their cellphones. Two people were taken for interrogation.

Told y'all yesterday. All of this is SOP! With the media shut down, they are free to suppress dissidents! They got the same game book right here in good ol' U S of A. Read it! Hell, Ollie North wrote some of it. Most of Egypt's ranking officers train right here in America at the General Staff College as well as with linear regular units to their own job assignments. Why do you reckon it's so convenient for OUR generals to be Influencing their generals by talking with them Hopefully?

nathan007

Feb 3, 2011 1:46 PM CST

I am surprised he as a westerner didnt say, they apparently are muslims who follow islam, coz the punch line ddnt come right no wonder